Accepting and Negotiating Job Offers

Negotiation is very common in the hiring process. It is an opportunity for you to have a dialogue with your employer about the components of your offer. You must begin the negotiation process after you have received an offer from an employer but before you have accepted it. If you attempt to negotiate after providing the employer with a verbal acceptance, you may risk losing your offer.

Before you negotiate, you should research your market value and you should know what you want and what you are willing to compromise. Components of an offer package that may be negotiable include base salary, 401(k) or other retirement programs, signing bonuses, relocation costs, education reimbursement, or other extras such as commuting allowance, technical equipment, professional development opportunities.

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MoneySmarts

Indiana University’s Office of Financial Literacy was established to assist students in making informed financial decisions before, during, and after college. Their MoneySmarts website has many helpful tools, including a Budget Calculator. Click here to learn more.